Bee Maggots were Not on the Menu

We met at the International House of Pancakes at 8:30 Saturday morning. I had seen M at church before but had never really talked to him. My kids had told me that he was cool because he helped out at Vacation Bible School over the summer and he was a lot of fun.

When I shook his hand I noticed black and orange rubber bands on his braces and I knew in an instant that this was the beginning of a good friendship. That is totally something I would have done.

With sat down with Sean, the youth pastor at church and also one of my very good friends, and started the getting to know you chit chat. We shared diagnosis stories and he was laughing at me (as most people do) about my “maybe I had a large dinner” statement.

Anyhow, he was laughing at the fact that he also was thirsty all the time. In fact, Sean mentioned how he was in the bathroom every 10 minutes last Sunday night at youth group. It was great seeing him laughing about it all and thinking it was funny because he didn’t know what was wrong at the time.

He wanted to know if was going to be able to enjoy the foods and things in life that used to before the D and I told him that he just needs to make sure he manages it correctly but there is no reason he should feel he is missing out on anything.

The waiter stopped by and asked if we were ready to order and of course, with all the gabbing I was doing we were not. We asked him to come back to the table in a few and we opened up our menus. M looked at me and said, “what should I have?” He had told me that with his breakfast dose of insulin, he was to have 105 carbs. He is a very thin kid and is very active. I was a bit jealous but I did not tell him that!

I told him, “Why don’t you pick what you want and we will see if we need to order it differently or minus some carbs if we must. What do you want dude?”

“I haven’t had pigs in a blanket since I was like in single digits,” he said which cracked me up.

I opened up my Calorie King book and figured out the carbs for the breakfast he wanted. We decided to add an order of toast to finish off his required carb intake and then ordered. He took out his syringe and asked if one of us could help him take his shot. The pharmacy gave him 1/2” syringes so he could not take it in his stomach or leg. He has hardly any fat there (jealous again). So he asked if one of us could give it to him in his arm. I told Sean, “Dude, you do it!” I wish I would have had a camera. His face was a white as a ghost. I let him off the hook of course and M and I went into the bathroom (his request) and I gave him his shot.

When we got back to the table he wanted to look through the Carb book I had. He really liked it but his favorite part was looking up food that he would probably never eat.

“Dude, we can eat all the ants and hog ears we want! Opossum and Canned Bee Maggots are also no carbs. SWEET!” Did I mention how cool this kid is?

All and all it was a very good experience. He seemed to have a very good attitude.

Last night I ran into his parents at a Halloween Event at our church called “Trunk or Treat.” All of the parents decorate their car trunks and the kids come around and trick or treat in the parking lot. Always a lot of fun.

Anyhow, his parents were so thankful and kind. I assured them that it was my pleasure and that I would love to be there for them too. My wife came over and introduced herself and also offered her help and ear if Mom or Dad ever has a question or needs to vent. (my wife is so great like that) I saw both of them well up with tears which caused me to join in.

Seeing the look of uncertainty. The look of fear and confusion. I remembered back to hearing my father crying on the phone when I was diagnosed and it brought back so many awful feelings.

I am so thankful that I can be there for them.

Of course, I wish I didn’t have to at all.

Pancakes and Parties

My very good friend Sean is the Youth and Family Pastor at our church. He went to see “M” in the hospital and told him and his family that I would like to be there for them if they need anything at all.

I received a call from Sean saying that “M” wanted to see if the 3 of us can go to breakfast on Saturday morning so we can talk. After a quick check with my better half, plans were set into motion.

I am really looking forward to listening to him and trying to offer some guidance and hope. I am probably gonna send him to the OC for some good reading so please be on your best behavior! Just kidding.

I will let you know how the breakfast visit goes. I was thinking about putting together a little care package of stuff for him. Do you guys have any suggestions? Things that maybe you were not told to get but that you learned are indispensable for you now? I was thinking like Glucose Tabs, foot lotion, and maybe some sugar free candy or something. I would love some ideas.

In other news, we had an open house at my company’s office to show off our newly remodeled facilities and invite our customers to meet us. It was a great event. Lots of people, lots of booze, and lots of food. I even let Master P hang out. He hung proudly on my belt and watched all the people from the side view. 3 different people said, “What’s that on your side?” I have yet to have people ask about “P” so I was really excited to spread the knowledge about the big D and how Master P helps me out. I even raised an additional 50 bucks for the Walk I am doing on the
4th November. Sweet!

Master P was in Full Effect!

Not again

I just found out that one of the High School aged kids at Church is spending the night in the hospital. He was diagnosed as a type 1 tonight.

With little "O" (I will update you on her soon) and now this kid, we will call him "M", being diagnosed I am just so upset.

I am sick of diabetes. I truly hate it. I hate what it does to childhoods. What is does to pocketbooks. What it does to hope.

I just remember how difficult it was to be a teenager in the first place. Hair is new places. Aroma's that were never pleasing. Zits. squeeky voices. Did I mention Zits? Being a teen is not easy and especially when you find that you are not "normal."

My mission is to get to know M. I know his family but have not really gotten to know him since I do not work with the youth at church any longer.

If you knew how many times I told myself, "You need to be there for that kid who feels alone since you always felt alone." I want to pay it forward.

I love the OC so much and your guidance means the world to me. I would love any advice you may have for helping this guy and his family out.

I know O's parents well so that was not so weird. I don't want to overstep my bounds.

I may be taking the "Super George" thing a little too seriously.

Tin or Aluminum? Really?

I have found that I walk a fine line between Traditional and Modern when it comes to my way of thinking.

But I cannot agree with either choice today. Tin or Aluminum? WTF?

Anyway, I promise this will make sense in a few paragraphs.

Let’s go back about 13 years ago.

I was in love. But the girl I was in love with was “promised” to another guy. Let me clarify that “promised” is only because she had a “promise ring” on from a guy she had been dating for 2.5 years.

I was sick. I knew that I was supposed to spend the rest of my life with her. She was my very first girlfriend. She was the first girl I ever kissed. She was a fellow band geek like me. I fell in love with her the first time I saw her back when I was 15. I knew then that she was special. We split in high school which was typical high school stuff but we always stayed good friends and now she was promised to some jerk who never knew how great she was.

My very good friend told me, “If this guy does not treat her well” He didn’t. “then get rid of him.” (not Soprano’s style)

“Okay” I replied.

The next few months I spent talking to her and finding out how their relationship was. I discovered even more awful stories about how this guy treated her. She was not happy but was almost just settling for this guy. I took the biggest risk I have ever taken in my life and said,

“Look, I am totally in love with you. I know that we are supposed to be together and if for one second you think that it would work with me and that you would like to try let me know and I will be there. I want to spend everyday of my life with you. I want to laugh, cry, win, lose, dance, sing, win the lottery, live in a box, what ever life brings, I want to do it with you.”

She says, “I have been waiting for this for so long. I thought that since you and [some girl I was dating for a while] were together that we would never have a chance. When [the jerk] asked me to wear this promise ring I told him I would have to think about it. I called [a mutual friend] and asked how the two of you were doing and she said that you guys were doing great so I figured, oh well and told [the jerk] that I would wear it.”

Then she kissed me.

I cannot even tell you how long my face was stuck in a smile. I felt like I flew home that night. And I can feel it now when I think about it.

Today is our 10 year anniversary.

We have a home. We have 2 wonderful children. We have a good life. We have each other.

I don’t think Tin or Aluminum can even come close.

Walk for Diabetes

Back in April I posted about finally starting a team to do a walk to benefit Diabetes research. Now as the date nears, I wanted to give anyone out there who comes across this blog the opportunity to either join me and walk with team “Beat the Bete” or donate to the cause. I would love to meet any bloggers in my neck of the woods so please visit the links below if you want to join!

This is the first time I have ever done this but I know it will not be my last. I missed the JDRF walk but I plan on doing that one next year too.

This year team “Beat the Bete” will walk to raise money for the American Diabetes Association.

If you are able to donate, and of course any amount is appreciated, please click here.

If you would like to walk with us please click here to join the team.

Any of you that cannot walk with us or donate, please keep us in your prayers and thoughts. That is a huge donation in my book.

After reading about Allison and Kerri's awesome walks, I look forward to my turn helping in the journey to a cure.

A Look Back

Last November my A1C was 12.5. I rarely checked my blood sugar. When I say “rarely” I am talking maybe once a month. I would just take my prescribed doses of insulin and that was it. I was living like a non-diabetic for most of the day except for the shots I would take. I would “shoot up” and forget about my disease.

When I saw that 12.5 I knew I had to change my ways or I would end up a blind, limbless being regretting all the mistakes I had made. If I was even still alive.

I switched doctors and by December my A1C had dropped to a 10!

I wanted to learn more about my disease so I searched for info on Diabetes online. I started listening to a Podcast called Diabetic Feed (which I miss dearly) and heard about this blog called Six Until Me. I was not a blog reader at all. I had heard of blogging but did not really get into it at all.

I decided to check it out and when I did, I found a bunch of links that lead me to different blogs. After reading all these accounts of diabetic adventures, pitfalls, and struggles I realized that I was not alone and that there was this great community that I could be apart of. A community that would accept me even with all of my mistakes and crap!

I started this blog in January and since then my life has never been the same.

By May my A1C had dropped to a 7.9 which was awesome! In June I started on an Insulin Pump (Master P) and was checking my BG 8-12 times a day.

Over 6 weeks ago I stopped smoking and have been completely smoke free since. (And still going strong by the way)

Last week I finally did some blood work I have not made the time for.

My A1C is 7.6 now.

Happy? Yeah I am. I guess I should be happier since it is still on the way down. I was just hoping for this miraculous drop right to the ADA goal of 6.5 or something. I am too hard on myself I guess. When I see all that has been accomplished in less than a year I see that I am on the right path.

You know what? I may not be where I want to be but I see that I can make some changes in my life. I see that it is possible to change bad habits and take on new good ones.

I read what I typed and I am proud of myself. I should be.

This is not easy.

Blogroll? BLOGROLL?

Come out come out wherever you are!

I have tried to find info on why the heck my links are gone but their site seems to be down.

Bummer.

Does anyone's blogroll work? I cannot remember everyone URL's so I use my links to read everyone's blogs.

**UPDATE**
AS SOON AS I HIT PUBLISH AND THEN VIEW BLOG, THERE THE @#%$#^ BLOGROLL WAS.

DID I JUST GET PUNK'D?

While We Were Out

About 7 months ago we asked our cousin if she would makeover our bedroom while we were on vacation. She has always had a knack for décor and her house is amazing! We (as most parents) have never done much in our room. We have decorated the kids’ rooms, the common rooms (living and dining) and the kitchen but our room was always BORING!

Here are some pictures of our room before and please do not laugh too hard. I would hate for you to get a cramp on your side.

Yes, I do not know how we ever survived in such a boring and plain room with nothing on the walls.

We saved up $1000 (which is a fortune to us BTW) and told her to do whatever she wanted to do in the room. Our only request was that we have a ceiling fan of some sort. We were willing to get rid of any furniture and any colors were fine. We left it entirely up to her.

Here is the bedroom now and honestly, I still am shocked every time I walk in.

After we saw the room and picked our jaws up off of the floor, our cousin said, “Are you ready for more?”

I knew in an instant what she meant.

“You did not do the bathroom.” I said in disbelief.

You see, our bathroom had some water damage in and around the shower and we pretty much never used it at all since we figured it would cost a small fortune to fix. Our cousin and several of our very good friends got together and donated money to fix our bathroom as a 10th anniversary gift to us. They scraped the walls, put up new drywall, and took care of the whole thing.

Here are the before pics and again, watch the laughing! :0)

And now this is what they did.

We were in tears. I have the best friends in the world. They love us so much and do things like this to show their love even though they know they do not have to.

What a great homecoming!

What a great anniversary gift.

What a blessing friends can be.

They are not our friends. They are our family.

The Vacation Post

We spent 8 days, 7 nights at Walt Disney World and boy is my bank account empty!

Looking through all of the pictures I took and remembering all of the fun things we did makes it all worth while. In total there were 11 of us that braved the Rodent World. The 11 consisted of my 2 older siblings, their significant others, their offspring, my offspring, my significant other, and my mommy! :)

The cool part was that we did not attempt to hang out together all the time. We met up each day for a meal (usually dinner) to catch up and visit with one another. Our rooms were all at the same resort, on the same floor, in a row so we did run into each other most mornings. And of course the kids had a “slumber party” in grandma’s room on a few nights. But all in all it was the first real Simmons family vacation and it was fantastic.

We went to every park. We rode every ride we wanted to. The wait times were short. The weather was great.

My favorite part of the vacation was just hanging out with my kids. We laughed and laughed so much our sides hurt. It was so great for just the 4 of us to run around like crazies and all act like little kids for a whole week! My kids are so much fun and funny to boot! The cool thing is how they really tried their best to experience everything. Not just treat WDW as an amusement park.

They tried new foods, talked to people from the different countries in Epcot and learned about the different customs from different places.


They posed for every lame picture moment their corny dad wanted them too. And they even did some acting to spice up the pics for dad’s blog.

Master P about overheated after looking at some of the desserts we had!

This is what the kids looked like every time we rode the bus to another park or back to hotel. They always rested so they were energized for the next adventure.

I would not have changed a thing!

*coming up next on The Bad Blog*

Our “While you were out” moment. I cannot wait to tell you about our homecoming!

Sweet 16 - Pun Intended

Where to begin?

We had an amazing time at Walt Disney World. I will post more about that when I get some pictures off of my camera and into the old PC. Also, I have some I need to scan and really need to think about what all to share and what not to so I don’t bore all of you.

The one thing I did want to mention is that today is my 16th anniversary of diagnosis. My sister emailed me this morning with…

Congrats?

Yeah, good use of punctuation. Do you congratulate? I guess you say, “well at least I am here.”

“Congrats!” not so much.

Maybe congrats at not having any complications? But that is not true. I ended up in a wheelchair on Thursday at Epcot because my feet were (and still are) covered in blisters from walking so much and I didn’t even feel it until I took off my shoes Wednesday night and saw open bleeding sores on my feet. My feeling is so bad in my feet that I did not even feel the pain that people without neuropathy would feel to alert them to the problem.

How about, Congrats on not having any real life threatening situations. But that is not true either. Last year I had a very bad stomach flu that put my in ICU for a few days. DKE was in full affect in this BAD Guy and my wife thought for a while that this may be the end of me. I cannot remember most of what happened. I have a post in my brain all about that situation. I am going to not detail that out right now because I am still pretty “high” from my vacation. (Not “high” like BG is high or the Willie Nelson kind in case you were wondering.)

I guess, “Congrats on making it through 16 years of struggle. Ups and downs. Continuing to not give up and learning more and more about your disease each day. Congratulations on finally owning this disease and wanting to make a difference for other diabetics in the world. Congrats on having so many people who are there for you and care about you to help with your difficult situations and people to offer advice and just generally listen to you when you need to be heard.”

There is so much to be thankful for this day and everyday.